Thanks to a £100,000 funding award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in January 2024, Manchester Libraries has been able to develop the new Manchester Image Archive and to hire a project manager to oversee it.

Currently hosting more than 90,000 images, the upgraded website features a much larger archive with the additional 12,000 images catalogued by a dedicated team of volunteers and through partnership work with The Museum Platform.

The improved system makes it easier than ever to search and discover images of local landmarks, people, and events. Some of the new and improved features include advanced search tools and high-quality image downloads and interactive features to allow users to share memories with libraries and to create their own library of images.

Additional features include:

Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure said:

"We have been developing this new collection since May last year and have partnered with a great team at The Museum Platform to help us build this new resource. We are thrilled to be able to offer a bigger and better website for all to use and thanks to the hard work of the volunteers and the support of the National Lottery funding we have been able to create a resource that will benefit generations to come."

Explore the Manchester Image Archive website here 

A man has been arrested and charged in the 1998 homicide of a 24-year-old pregnant woman in Toronto after police say they used investigative genetic genealogy to crack the cold case.

Det. Sgt. Steve Smith said Ronald Gordon Ackerman of Gander, N.L., had just gotten off a flight from Edmonton when he was intercepted and arrested at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. 

Ackerman, 50, has been charged with first-degree murder. 

"We knew he was working out in Alberta for two weeks at a time and then flying back to the East Coast for two weeks at a time," Smith said Friday.

"We were able to determine that he was going to be coming through Toronto."

Smith said Donna Oglive was a sex worker form British Columbia and had been in Toronto for only about five weeks when she was allegedly strangled to death by a client in a parking lot on Carlton Street. 

"In Canada, she has very little family, there's only really one person," he said.

Smith said police found a suspect's DNA at the crime scene, but they could not identify the person after running the evidence through a national data bank. 

He said police used investigative genetic geneology to track down the accused man's family last year and have used that technology to solve several cold cases over the last months. 

"Ontario's basically the leader in IGG testing, as you've seen by the number of arrests that we've put forward," he said. "Hopefully we continue this program over the next few years."

Smith said the accused man was living in the east end of Toronto in Scarborough and worked as a truck driver at the time of the homicide.

Police are investigating what he has been doing since then, Smith added.

"We need to find out what he's been doing over the past 25 years and make sure that there are no other victims, whether sexually motivated or homicides that he could be involved (in)," he said.

Smith said police have more than 800 historical homicides alone that are not solved.

"When you're able to solve these cases, it's a great feeling," he said. "It's nice to make sure, especially when these people are still alive, that they have to come and face justice no matter how long it's going to be."

Smith said investigative genetic genealogy will be a big help in finding those offenders.

"Anybody that committed sexual assaults or homicides over the past 40, 50 years, if they're still alive, I mean, they'd be expecting a knock on their door at any point," he said. 

The accused man is remanded in custody in Toronto after he appeared via video link at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre on Thursday.

President Trump has fired Archivist of the United States Colleen J. Shogan, the government official responsible for preserving and providing access to government records. 

Sergio Gor, director of the Presidential Personnel Office, announced Shogan's dismissal Friday night. Shogan has held the job since 2023. 

"At the direction of @realDonaldTrump the Archivist of the United States has been dismissed tonight," Gor wrote on X. "We thank Colleen Shogan for her service."

Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan speaks at her swearing-In ceremony at the National Archives on Sept. 11, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

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The archivist of the United States, who oversees the National Archives and Records Administration, is typically an apolitical role that receives little attention. But Mr. Trump has expressed ire toward the agency in the past, after it was a key player in the case about his mishandling of classified records. 

When he left office in early 2021, Mr. Trump allegedly took dozens of boxes of presidential papers, including nearly 340 documents bearing classified markings, to his home in Florida. Mr. Trump was eventually charged with 40 felonies, including for allegedly refusing to turn over some of the papers. But after Mr. Trump won the election in November, then-special counsel Jack Smith removed him from the case due to Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. 

NARA referred all requests for comment to the White House. 

Covering 1,000 Square Miles with 128,485 individuals and organisations

TheGenealogist in partnership with The National Archives have launched their expansive Lloyd George Domesday Record Collection for Dorset. The collection features historic maps from 1910 with pins representing records on its innovative MapExplorer^TM.

Step back in time and visit “Hardy Country” with TheGenealogist’s latest release, The Lloyd George Domesday for Dorset. These detailed records of house occupancy and ownership, cover the rural county in the run up to the first world war. They capture Dorset at a pivotal moment, when the great houses still dominated the landscape and Thomas Hardy himself walked the ancient streets of Dorchester.

Above: Thomas Hardy in the new records

Key Features:

• This release covers 1,000 square miles of Dorset with historic maps and details of 128,485 individuals and organisations
• Records have been linked to pins on detailed maps
• Interactive MapExplorer^TM technology lets you explore the area from a century ago
• The Lloyd George Domesday now includes: Greater London, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire
• The project now covers over 9,600 square miles and nearly 4 million individuals and organisations

The survey, originally commissioned by David Lloyd George to assess land value for taxation, provides a unique snapshot of life between 1910 and 1915.

Mark Bayley Head of Online Content at TheGenealogist, stated: "These records are a fantastic insight for family and social historians alike. They capture Dorset at a pivotal moment just before the dramatic social transformations brought by the First World War that would forever change rural England."

The Lloyd George Domesday survey is now available to Diamond subscribers on TheGenealogist.co.uk.

In these records is Thomas Hardy - read his story here:  https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/thomas-hardy-7982/

For a limited time, you can get our Diamond Subscription for just £103.95. You’ll also receive a 12 month subscription to Discover Your Ancestors’ Online Magazine plus Four eBooks; Discover Your Ancestors' Occupations by Laura Berry, Regional Research Guidebook by Andrew Chapman, Researching and Locating Your Ancestors by Celia Heritage and Discover Your Ancestors Periodical Compendium, giving you a combined saving of over £100.

Explore these new records and start your genealogical journey today with TheGenealogist by claiming this offer here:

https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/MGBLGD225

Offer expires 31st March 2025.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was tapped as the acting director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) just days ago, is taking on another new role in President Donald Trump's new administration. 

Rubio is now also serving as the acting director of the U.S. Archives, ABC News reported,citing a high-level official. Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department for comment, but they did not immediately respond.

Trump signaled last month his intention of replacing the now-former national archivist Colleen Shogan, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, during a brief phone interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt. The National Archives notified the Justice Department in early 2022 over classified documents Trump allegedly took with him to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after leaving office. That would later result in an FBI raid, and Trump being indicted by former special counsel Jack Smith. However, Biden nominated Shogan to run the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) later in 2022, and the Senate confirmed her the following year.

The source told ABC News that Rubio has been the acting archivist since shortly after Trump was sworn in as the 47th president last month. 

This week, Rubio is traveling on his first official State Department trip to Central America, during which he convinced the Panamanian president to end its Belt and Roads project deal with the Chinese government. Trump has said the United States could claim the Panama Canal through economic or military measures if necessary after raising concerns about Beijing allegedly controlling the strategic waterway that was constructed by the U.S. 

The Trump administration has suspended some foreign aid pending a review into how U.S. taxpayer dollars are being spent abroad, resulting in thousands of layoffs and ended programs. 

While addressing reporters in Guatemala City on Wednesday, Rubio said he issued waivers for certain programs that assist in gathering biometric information to better identify fugitives, as well as bolster technology and K-9 units to identify shipments of deadly fentanyl and precursor chemicals, showing "firsthand the kind of foreign aid America wants to be involved in." 

"This is an example of foreign aid that’s in our national interest. That’s why I’ve issued a waiver for these programs, that’s why these programs are coming back online, and they will be functioning, because it’s a way of showing to the American people this is the kind of foreign aid that’s aligned with our foreign policy, with our national interest," Rubio said.

America’s top diplomat said the United States wants some fugitives who are "strategic objectives, meaning they help us strengthen our partners, and they help us to cut the head off the snake of a transnational group that’s particularly dangerous." He said the State Department would be "working very closely" with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Justice Department in "prioritizing our extradition requests so that they align with our strategic objective with regards to who it is that we’re going after."

The State Department announced on Wednesday that "the government of Panama has agreed to no longer charge fees for U.S. government vessels to transit the Panama Canal," saving the U.S. government "millions of dollars a year." 

However, the Panama Canal Authority denied having made any adjustments to the tolls or transit agreements of the canal despite the State Department's announcement, adding that they are "ready to establish a dialogue with the relevant officials of the United States regarding the transit of warships." Earlier this week, Rubio voiced frustration about U.S. Navy ships having to pay to transit through the canal despite the U.S. being under treaty agreement to defend the canal if it is attacked. 

"Secretary of State Marco Rubio is such a breath of fresh air & he’s proven to be incredibly effective in implementing President Trump’s PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH vision for the world," Rep. Carlos Giménez, a Republican ally of Rubio in Congress representing south Florida, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Panama has agreed to drop its ‘memorandum of understanding’ with Communist China & to waive the toll for U.S. Navy ships transiting the Canal Zone. Panama must continue to work with the United States to evict Communist China from their country & achieve a productive, long-term deal that prioritizes both of our countries’ shared interests."

Besides the canal, Rubio has focused his trip on immigration, praising the Panamanians for the decreased flow of migrants through the Darien Gap and overseeing a deportation flight of Colombian nationals back to Colombia. 

Rubio secured two agreements with first, El Salvador, and then Guatemala on Wednesday, for the countries to accept deportees from the U.S.

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) is now shipping orders of its groundbreaking textbook, Forensic Genealogy: Theory & Practice. With 575 pages, it is the first comprehensive primer for professional genealogists who are interested in exploring the specialty areas and skills required to build a career in this emerging field. 

Lead authors Michael S. Ramage, JD, CG, and Catherine Becker Wiest Desmarais, CG, recruited five contributing authors who are leaders in the field to produce this must-have book. In Forensic Genealogy: Theory & Practice, these experts provide an in-depth overview of this evolving discipline and establish professional standards for practitioners.

Part One of the book discusses forensic genealogy's subspecialties and includes exercises, case studies, sample documents, and resources. Part Two focuses on the practical, yet essential, aspects of running a business as a forensic genealogist. A seventeen-page glossary serves as a useful tool for anyone new to the field.

Meet the authors and purchase Forensic Genealogy: Theory & Practice at the NGS booth at RootsTech in Salt Lake City 6-8 March 2025. Or order your copy through the NGS Store.

Copyright © 2025 National Genealogical Society (NGS), all rights reserved.

National Genealogical Society · PO Box 128 · Annapolis Junction, MD 20701-0128 · USA

The Metropolis, Illinois Public Library is currently seeking candidates for a part-time position that will require 10-20 hours of work each week. The role will primarily focus on assisting in the Genealogy Department, a key area for community members interested in exploring their ancestry and local history.

In addition to genealogy work, the new hire will also be responsible for handling reference requests and managing Inter-Library loans, providing valuable support to patrons seeking information and resources beyond the library’s collections.

For those interested in learning more about this opportunity, listen to the full conversation with Director Kennedy on WMOK at https://soundcloud.com/user-588116737/job-opportunity-at-metropolis 

In December, the National Archives’ Permanent Records Capture Team and staff from the Cartographic Branch began receiving a collection of historical documents from Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). This collection consists of rare maps and architectural drawings from the 1830s to 1970s that were used to assist in determining land boundaries and roads, and constructing historic structures at ANC, as well as other documents of significance. 

“Collections like this give new insight into the thought that went into the creation of ANC,” said Archives Specialist Tony Williams. “They also allow the public to engage with the cemetery’s rich history and honor those who served.”
  

Enlarge

The National Archives recently received a collection of historical documents from Arlington National Cemetery, including several original poems by famed World War II combat veteran Audie Murphy. (National Archives photo by Tony Williams)

There are several pieces of note within the collection, including:

“Maps used in the 18th and 19th centuries were handmade using paper and inks. Some of the maps we received were brittle and discolored, needing immediate remediation care,” Williams said. “Archives staff will provide the ideal conditions to continue preservation of the documents by storing them in a cool, dry place away from direct light and heat.”

ANC is rich in historical military records that are frequently referenced by researchers. These records were maintained by engineers, and various pieces were gathered from different areas within the cemetery. 

This collection is considered to hold intrinsic value. Records with intrinsic value are classified as permanent records possessing characteristics that make their original form the only acceptable method for preservation.  

“Only a small percentage of government records are appraised as having intrinsic value,” said Appraisal Supervisor Richard Green, who helped develop the guidelines for determining Intrinsic Value Records.

Enlarge

Design for the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery. This blueprint was among several in a collection of rare historical documents recently transferred to the National Archives. (National Archives photo by Tony Williams)

High research value transfers often involve coordinating with multiple offices.  

“Appraising intrinsic value records requires collaborating with agencies to determine which records may have intrinsic value and thus be good candidates for accessioning to the National Archives to ensure public access well into the future,” Williams added. “We are in negotiations with the [cemetery] to receive more historical records. These collaborative efforts assist in agencies building trust in the National Archives, which sometimes leads to high-value transfers like this one.”

Once the records are processed by the Cartographic Branch staff, they will be available to view in the Cartographic Research Room at the National Archives in College Park, MD. These records will be digitized in the future, to provide online access.  

“The Permanent Records Capture Team is dedicated to providing public access to high-value government records,” said Williams. “We ensure that records deemed to have intrinsic value are properly appraised, that disposition instructions are implemented, and that we assist agencies in secure record transfers. We support our mission in providing equitable public access to federal government records, and are expecting a second transfer of concept drawings and maps in the near future.”

For additional information regarding intrinsic value records, please contact the permanent records capture staff at permanentrecords@nara.gov

Visit the National Archives online for more news, and visit the National Archives Catalog to browse more digitized records from Arlington National Cemetery.

The following is a press release that describes a new service from MyHeritage:

TEL AVIV, Israel and LEHI, Utah, February 6, 2025 — MyHeritage, the leading global platform for family history and DNA testing, announced today the launch of MyStories, a new global service that enables people to capture their personal stories in a beautiful printed book. MyStories simplifies the seemingly daunting task of writing a memoir by sending the storyteller one email per week with a thoughtful question about a specific memory or milestone, such as the story of meeting one’s spouse or words of advice for future generations. The recipient simply replies to the emails and attaches any photos they would like to include. The questions can be modified to suit the storyteller and the focus of the book, and can be rearranged as desired. Storytellers can answer once a week over the course of a year, or at a different pace, according to their preference. When purchasing MyStories as a gift for someone else, the recipient will receive the email prompts directly. All it takes is an email — no technical know-how is necessary — making MyStories an ideal gift for a parent or grandparent in their golden years, giving them the opportunity to reminisce about life experiences and preserve their memories. MyStories is also a rewarding gift for oneself. “MyStories is an important addition to MyHeritage’s suite of family history products,” said Gilad Japhet, Founder and CEO of MyHeritage. “With MyStories, anyone can be the proud author of a book that will become an heirloom for their family for many years to come. Time isn’t on our side; as the years go by, the stories of our loved ones are at risk of being lost. The time to preserve them is now. Gifting MyStories to a parent or loved one is one of the most meaningful gifts one can give, and it’s just as rewarding for the giver as it is for the recipient.” MyStories is already receiving high praise from leading family history experts. Janna Helshtein of DNA at Eye Levelsaid, “I had no idea how many stories were hidden inside me. As soon as I started answering the questions, I was there. The stories just poured out. It was very emotional.” James Tanner, author of Genealogy’s Star blog, commented, “As I get older, I have become aware of how little my 34 grandchildren know about me and my life. MyStories provides a way for me to make my life known for posterity, and to preserve the stories that make our family who we are.” Randy Seaver, author of the  Genea-Musings blog, declared, “MyStories is a winner! My children and grandchildren will be able to remember my stories for their entire lives! I’m getting a copy for each one of them.” For 21 years, MyHeritage has inspired millions of people worldwide to discover more about who they are and where they belong. While family trees, historical records, and photos are integral to family history, the stories, memories, and anecdotes that form the essence of life often go undocumented. MyStories bridges this gap by encouraging people to capture their stories and preserve them for future generations in high-quality hardcover books, ensuring their stories are cherished forever. MyStories is currently available in English and will soon be made available in additional languages. MyStories costs $99 and includes weekly story prompts and one hardcover, full-color printed book. Shipping within the United States is free, and international shipping is also available. MyHeritage customers with a Complete or Omni subscription enjoy a loyalty discount on their purchase of MyStories. The books can be edited and customized, and additional copies can be ordered for an extra fee. Each book can also be downloaded for free as a PDF file at any time, and saved to one’s family tree on MyHeritage as a digital asset for posterity.  Learn more at MyStories.com About MyHeritage MyHeritage is the leading global platform for family history. It enriches the lives of people worldwide by enabling them to uncover more about themselves and where they belong. With a suite of intuitive products, billions of historical records, an affordable at-home DNA test, and AI-powered photo tools, MyHeritage creates a meaningful discovery experience that is deeply rewarding. The MyHeritage platform is enjoyed by tens of millions of people around the world who treasure and celebrate their heritage. MyHeritage offers full privacy controls and is available in 42 languages. www.myheritage.com

The final scans for the Priaulx Library have been completed in internet genealogy giant Findmypast’s efforts to digitise Guernsey’s historical records.

Over the last 12 months approximately 30 terabytes of data – the equivalent of downloading 20,000 movies – has been recorded and uploaded from paper records stored across the Bailiwick.

Once reviewed, the records will then be available for anyone researching their Guernsey heritage anywhere online across the world for a subscription, or for free at the Archives and Priaulx library.

Capture manager Matthew Findlay has been working on the project for Findmypast in Guernsey since last February and was there to photograph the final outstanding pages from a book of hospital deliberation minutes.

‘On average I have been doing between 700 to 1,000 pages a day.

‘I’ve been working at three different locations, here at the Greffe, the Priaulx Library and the Island Archives,’ he said.

‘We are basically photographing pages and uploading them and it has gone pretty smoothly although a few times we have had to switch to a larger camera for the really big items.’

Priaulx Library chief executive Steve Foote has been one of the people co-coordinating the cross-island effort.

‘It has been a real collaborative effort between the library, the Greffe, archives, constables, La Societe and all the churches,’ he said.

‘I also wanted to thank Sark and Alderney, who brought their records to Guernsey to be included. We are still hoping to go live in April, and with the occupation ID records being available online just before Liberation Day, that is a real boost.’

‘Hopefully that will lead to made people visiting the island online and then for real when they discover their links to the island.’

Records dated back as far as the 16th century have been scanned, including births, deaths and marriages, baptisms, and burials – as well as a host of other sources including wills, cemetery records and occupation ID’s.

The images are now back at the team at Findmypast for quality control.

UK archives manager at Findmypast, Mary McKee, said that over the course of the year, her team had captured about 210,000 images from about 21 different record types.

‘We’re hoping that when we launch, we’ll have somewhere around 350,000 names from these records that everybody can search globally,’ she said.

‘We are at the final stage of the process and we can just spend the next two months really playing with it all, really getting to see the images and everything we captured over the last year.’

Four data developers and three operational team members have been working on the painstaking process of reviewing each record.

‘There’s no point in digitising all these records if you can’t find the people you want,’ she said.

‘Then we start the next steps with our own internal test sites, making sure that the transcription quality is good.’

Mrs McKee said she were really excited to start pulling together the stories they could find from the records to see how they could celebrate the people of Guernsey.

‘Liberation Day is going to be a key moment,’ she said. 'We’re excited that we were given the privilege to digitise the Occupation cards and the evacuating return forms, and especially those Channel Island monthly reviews [a newsletter produced in England to keep all of those that had been evacuated up to date with news of their friends and relatives].

‘They tell an incredible story of the Occupation of Guernsey.’‘ On average I have been doing between 700 to 1,000 pages a day.

‘I’ve been working at three different locations, here at the Greffe, the Priaulx Library and the Island Archives,’ he said.

‘We are basically photographing pages and uploading them and it has gone pretty smoothly although a few times we have had to switch to a larger camera for the really big items.’

Priaulx Library chief executive Steve Foote has been one of the people co-coordinating the cross-island effort.

‘It has been a real collaborative effort between the library, the Greffe, archives, constables, La Societe and all the churches,’ he said.

‘I also wanted to thank Sark and Alderney, who brought their records to Guernsey to be included. We are still hoping to go live in April, and with the occupation ID records being available online just before Liberation Day, that is a real boost.’

‘Hopefully that will lead to made people visiting the island online and then for real when they discover their links to the island.’

Records dated back as far as the 16th century have been scanned, including births, deaths and marriages, baptisms, and burials – as well as a host of other sources including wills, cemetery records and occupation ID’s.

The images are now back at the team at Findmypast for quality control.

UK archives manager at Findmypast, Mary McKee, said that over the course of the year, her team had captured about 210,000 images from about 21 different record types.

‘We’re hoping that when we launch, we’ll have somewhere around 350,000 names from these records that everybody can search globally,’ she said.

‘We are at the final stage of the process and we can just spend the next two months really playing with it all, really getting to see the images and everything we captured over the last year.’

Four data developers and three operational team members have been working on the painstaking process of reviewing each record.

‘There’s no point in digitising all these records if you can’t find the people you want,’ she said.

‘Then we start the next steps with our own internal test sites, making sure that the transcription quality is good.’

Mrs McKee said she were really excited to start pulling together the stories they could find from the records to see how they could celebrate the people of Guernsey.

‘Liberation Day is going to be a key moment,’ she said.

‘We’re excited that we were given the privilege to digitise the Occupation cards and the evacuating return forms, and especially those Channel Island monthly reviews [a newsletter produced in England to keep all of those that had been evacuated up to date with news of their friends and relatives].